HBO has been hacked and hackers may have a bunch of unaired Game of Thrones episodes

Avoiding spoilers is about to get way, way harder.

In case you missed it, HBO got hacked to hell last night. The cyberattack led to 1.5 terabytes of information being stolen, including, reportedly, unseen scripts and episodes for the network’s flagship series, Game of Thrones. Yikes. Already, the hackers have released upcoming episodes of Room 104 and Ballers as a cheeky little amuse-bouche, knowing full well everyone could care less and want those sweet sweet Thrones spoilers. It’s a great, evil strategy that simultaneously keeps them in the news and keeps HBO on the back foot. Of course, this could all just be a bluff to keep people interested.

HBO, and Game of Thrones, have suffered leaks before. Four full episodes were leaked ahead of Season Five, An episode from Season Six accidentally went online a day early last year, and let’s not forget all those reported spoilers for this season, which still may or may not be real (though in all honesty, it seems more and more unlikely that they are).

The hacker’s (or hackers’) motivation is murky. In a fevered statement released confirming the leak, the group taking credit for the hack said “The greatest leak of cyber space era is happening. What’s its name? Oh I forget to tell. Its HBO and Game of Thrones……!!!!!!” and that “HBO is falling.” These guys love drama, and hate HBO it seems. There are worse reasons to do things, I guess.

It remains to be seen whether the Game of Thrones episodes and scripts are real, or will be publicly released any time soon. As a meticulous blogger with uncompromised morals, it is my ethical duty to tell you not to download or watch any ill-gotten HBO content. Wait for it to air and use your stolen friends’ parents’ cable login to watch it like a normal person, damn it.